What do I think?There are not many choices for youth sizes in weightlifting shoes. I like the look and feel of the Romaleos. Only the Romaleos 2 are available in youth sizes, not the Romaleos 1 or 3. They are tied with shoelaces and then a Velcro strap. The strap is cool but I don’t think it makes that much difference. They do not fit any higher around my ankle or tighter around my foot than a regular gym shoe. They are available in many colors including black, white, blue, red, and pink. I liked the red design the best.

The sole of the shoes is medium-hard. When you jump up and land on them, like in a snatch-pull, they really make a loud “crack” when they hit the lifting platform.

Why do you need it & when should you use it?I like them because they are good for weightlifting. They feel like regular shoes but they are uncomfortable to walk in. They make your heel stand taller than your toe. This really helps improve your position for squats. Kids havebetter ankle mobility than adults and could technically use any shoes for weightlifting in fact you don’t even have to wear shoes at all.

How do you get it?Emery ordered his Nike Romaleos 2 from the website https://www.athleteps.com/. The lifters are available in youth sizes from that website, starting at a Men’s size 3.

Emery Greene is 10 years old and has been doing CrossFit for 3 years. He also plays Football, Basketball, and attends Gymnastics class. He consistently makes the honor role at Farmingdale Elementary.